{"title":"Corgi RIAT 2026 Aviation Releases","description":"","products":[{"product_id":"corgi-aa27904-mcdonnell-douglas-phantom-ii-fg-1-xv582-black-mike","title":"AA27904 McDonnell Douglas Phantom II FG.1, XV582 'Black Mike'","description":"\u003cp\u003eWhen it comes to RAF aircraft which have benefitted from the application of special commemorative schemes, there’s one machine which still enjoys legendary status amongst Britain’s army of aviation enthusiasts, Phantom FG.1 ‘Black Mike’. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAn aircraft which had recently transferred to the care of RAF No.111 Squadron at Leuchars, XV582 was selected to receive this unique scheme as the squadron wanted to mark both the RAF service of the Phantom, and the heritage of their famous unit, heritage which included the ‘Black Arrows’ Aerobatic Display Team. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBetween 1955 and 1960, this team flew aerobatic demonstrations in their gloss black painted Hawker Hunter jets at Airshows all over Britain, including the Farnborough show in 1958, where the team captured a world record by looping 22 Hunters in formation. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn commemoration of this, XV582 was given this smart all-over gloss black scheme, initially for just a static ‘At Home’ Airshow appearance at Leuchars in 1989, but proved so popular that she exhausted her remaining airframe hours the following year as Treble One squadron’s display aircraft. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eKnown as ‘Black Mike’ because of her colour and her squadron letter, XV582 became the aircraft every RAF pilot wanted to fly, but with her Airshow commitments and low remaining flying hours, only a fortunate few managed to do so. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMaking her final flight on 22nd September 1990, ‘Black Mike’ was retired to become a static star of many a Leuchars Airshow, but always retaining her iconic status with aviation enthusiasts.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Corgi","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":58448022962560,"sku":"COR-AA27904","price":170.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0225\/2858\/9896\/files\/AA27904_3_Phantom-FGR1-Black-Mike.jpg?v=1784018506"},{"product_id":"corgi-aa38212a-douglas™-ac-47-gunship-spooky-71-vietnam-1969","title":"AA38212A Douglas™ AC-47 Gunship, 'Spooky 71', Vietnam 1969","description":"\u003cp\u003eIn the dark night skies over Vietnam, a terrifying new weapon had been introduced by American forces trying to protect their troops on the ground, a combination of older aeroplanes and cutting edge technology that resulted in the creation of fire spewing dragons capable of laying down 6,000 rounds of suppressing fire every minute. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe venerable Douglas C-47 Skytrain had been modified to become one of the most feared weapons of the conflict, however, ‘Spooky’ crews wouldn’t always have it their own way.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOn the night of 24th February 1969, the crew of gunship 43-49770 ‘Spooky 71’ had been called to provide fire support for troop under attack at Long Binh, but whilst doing so, their aircraft had taken a direct mortar round hit in the right wing, resulting in a gaping hole and the aircraft being peppered with 3,500 shrapnel holes. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe aircraft lurched violently and the fire crew were thrown off their feet, all suffering from multiple shrapnel wounds. Bleeding profusely, Airman First Class John Levitow could see one of his crewmates was in danger of falling out of the open cargo door, and fought through the pain of his wounds to drag him to a safer position. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eUnfortunately, he also saw that the flare his colleague had been trying to throw out of the aircraft prior to the mortar hit had blown back into the cabin and was smoking, about to detonate. He threw his body on top of the flare and slowly ushered it towards the open door using his last reserves of strength, rolling it into the night sky seconds before it detonated. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor his heroic, selfless actions which saved both his aircraft and crewmates, John Levitow was rightfully awarded the Medal of Honor. Despite the drama and devastation in the night sky above the Long Binh US Army post, the aircraft did manage to make it back to its home base safely, where ground crews were able to assess the damage from the mortar strike, and count every one of the 3,500 shrapnel holes which peppered the wings and fuselage of the aircraft.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Corgi","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":58448084435328,"sku":"COR-AA38212A","price":134.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0225\/2858\/9896\/files\/AA38212A_Douglas_AC-47D_Gunship_Vietnam.jpg?v=1784019463"},{"product_id":"corgi-aa38212b-douglas™-ac-47-gunship-spooky-086™-commemorative-air-force","title":"AA38212B Douglas™ AC-47 Gunship, ‘Spooky 086™’, Commemorative Air Force","description":"\u003cp\u003eWhen it comes to allowing the public to interact with historic aeroplanes, nobody does so quite like the Commemorative Air Force (CAF). Honouring the heroes of yesterday by inspiring the heroes of tomorrow, those involved with CAF are dedicated to this vital mission, inspiring millions of people by educating them about their aircraft and the people who built, flew, and maintained them.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOne of the latest aircraft to join the CAF fleet is a Douglas AC-47 Gunship, known as ‘Spooky 086.’ The aircraft is assigned to the CAF’s Texas-based Gulf Coast Wing, where members have worked hard to prepare it for its debut on the US historic aviation scene. The AC-47 is a beautiful example of the fire support platforms that served with distinction during the Vietnam War. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis aircraft was originally built as a C-47B in 1944 and later assigned to the US Navy as an R4D-6. Although this aircraft didn’t serve in Vietnam, the CAF intends for this project to highlight the aircraft's adaptability, which enabled its conversion into an airborne fire support platform 25 years after it was originally built. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSpooky gunships could loiter over a battlefield, circling and concentrating fire, making them an effective early counterinsurgency aircraft. The code markings worn by “Spooky 086” do not designate a specific AC-47 that served but rather pay tribute to 86 individual AC-47 crew members who lost their lives whilst serving during the Vietnam War.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Corgi","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":58448095347072,"sku":"COR-AA38212B","price":134.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0225\/2858\/9896\/files\/AA38212B_Douglas_AC-47D_Gunship_CAF.jpg?v=1784019610"},{"product_id":"corgi-aa27710-north-american-p-51d-mustang-44-73843-old-red-nose™-commemorative-air-force","title":"AA27710 North American P-51D Mustang, 44-73843, 'Old Red Nose™', Commemorative Air Force","description":"\u003cp\u003eAlthough the North American P-51 Mustang is unquestionably regarded as one of the finest fighting aeroplanes of the entire Second World War, it can be surprising to learn that the bubble canopy equipped ‘D’ variant of the fighter only started flying combat operations in the European Theatre from the summer of 1944 onwards. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWith its impressive reputation, the Mustang has long been a favourite with Warbird and Airshow enthusiasts, with one aircraft possessing a particularly rich heritage in the world of historic aviation. P-51D Mustang ‘Old Red Nose’ was purchased by a group of WWII veteran pilot friends in 1957, who pooled their resources to secure a Mustang they could all fly, with this aircraft now regarded as the founding aircraft of the Commemorative Air Force (CAF). \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAlways flown with a distinctive red spinner, this Mustang was colloquially known as ‘Old Red Nose’, so when it came time to select a suitable authentic wartime scheme for her, they selected one of the red nosed Mustangs of the 4th Fighter Group, which flew out of Debden in England during the Second World War, a unit which was the highest scoring USAAF Fighter Group in WWII. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eShe was donated to the Commemorative Air Force (CAF) in 1991 and since that date, has been honouring the heroes of yesterday by informing the public about the people who built, flew and maintained these magnificent aeroplanes.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Corgi","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":58448098165120,"sku":"COR-AA27710","price":53.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0225\/2858\/9896\/files\/AA27710_P51D-Mustang-Old-Red-Nose-CAF_LINE-ART.jpg?v=1784019696"}],"url":"https:\/\/railsofsheffield.com\/collections\/corgi-riat-2026-aviation-releases.oembed","provider":"Rails of Sheffield","version":"1.0","type":"link"}